With Harding ill, Wild call up backup goalie

Coach Mike Yeo says Josh Harding was ill and didn't take part in the pre-game skate on Thursday morning. Niklas Backstrom was announced as the starter against Buffalo for the game Thursday night.

Kuemper is tied for first in the AHL with a .929 save percentage for Iowa.

Harding played the last two games for the Wild after missing four straight games to adjust to medication for multiple sclerosis. Backstrom was in the net for those. Harding leads the NHL in goals against average.

The Wild also placed fourth-line center Zenon Konopka on waivers and activated defenseman Clayton Stoner from injured reserve. Stoner has missed the last four games because of a lower-body injury.